Top fok motob vehicles and the xike



ML BUCH. TOP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE- APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1919- MM M 4m T 2 m m5 W m a ,T 2 y 7 a. w :m D m m Reissued Dec. 5, 1922 M. BUCH.

TOP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE L|K'E..

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2L Reissued Dec. 5, p 1922.

"UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX BUCI-I, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, Ass GNoR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO EDWARDS CORPORATION, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

TO? FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE.

Original No. 1,221,669, dated April 3, 1917, Serial No. 108,646, filed July 11, 1916. Application for reissue filed April 7, 1919.

To all whom it concern: Be it known that I, MAX BUoH, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Detroit, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops for Motor Vehicles and the like, of-whic'h the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements intops for vehicles and more especially to those of the, character usually designated one man tops and designed to be manipulated, in folding or extending, by a single operator.

The invention aims to provide a balanced top frame which will be capable of being raised or lowered with a minimum amount of energy; and itfurther aims to accomplish this object without detracting from,

the ornamental or finished appearance and with a minimum amount of exposed springs or counterbalancing devices. I

With these and other objects in view the invention includes the novelfeatures of construction and arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined by the appended claims.

Several embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: F igure 1 is a side elevation of a complete top as applied to a vehicle body and in extended position. 1 v v Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged detail views. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a modification.

Fig. 5 is a view of a further modification.

In describing the form of top frame which .I have chosen to illustrate my invention I would have it understood that this isby way of example only, my present invention not being limited to any specific arrange ment of frame members, links, or leversexcept as they may be specifically included in any of the claims. v

In the drawing the topbeing shown in side elevation only, the bow standards or arms and braces on one side appear but it will be understood that they are duplicated on the opposite side and when. I speak of the parts in the singular itwill be under stood that the language is applicable to the other side also. v I

In this drawing, the numeral 1' designates what is usually termed the main bow stand- 'ard by bolt 5.

Serial No. 288,404.

ard which is shown as pivotally connected to the vehicle body A at 1 by a body iron.

The body iron preferably has a square parts a" to whic h'is connected'one end of a spiral spring 3, the other end of which is secured to the main bow supporting arm or standard by suitable means, such as screw .3: When the top is extended or. unfolded the main standard extends forward in an inclined position as shown, and the spring may be so adjusted that it tendsto throw said bar rearwardly, thus assisting the op.- erator in folding the. top, said adjustment of the spring however, is so arranged that as the standard swings farther toward the rear tension is applied to the spring in a reverse direction, so that when said standard is inits completely folded, or substantially horizontal position, said spring tends toraise' thestandard to a vertical position,

thus assisting the operator in the raising of the top counterbalacing' the weight of thestandard and parts carried thereby.

It will be understood that ordinarily these I motor'vehicle tops are secured at the front to the upper corners of the wind shield so that such fastening resists any tendency of the spring to throw the standard to a vertical position. Where such front fastening rear bow arm 4 is pivoted. This'rearbow arm has an angular extension P extending into the hollow space of the standard," the I underside of which is pressed against by a compression helical coiled spring 6 located within the hollow portion of the standard].

and which tends to keep the rear bow arm 4 opened out. the folding'of the rear bow arm against the standard serving 'to further compress the spring andthus cause said rear bow arm to automatically swing away from This spring also tends to assist in the raising of the standard from'its rearward folded j position, as, the rearbowarm being-then supported by the ordinary supporting bracket, the. spring reacting, through the pivot, on the standard,-tends to .exert'a lifting action thereon. "The spring 6 is preferably inserted through the open lower end of the standard which is closed by a screw plug 1' through which the pivot bolt or lug extends.

l "fi h sp l. Spring 3 mi be omittedand the helical spring 6' relied 'onlforthe counter-balancing action to, aid

in lifting thebowstandard 1 from its rearwe d' l d si oh,hi lprfsr t0 prile- .nient its actionby' the spiral spring.

. Nearjthe upper end ofthe standard and Pr ferab y be ween d pl te o ug -formedby widening out said standard, is

pivotedthe xlower end of a supplemental.

rear bow arm This portion-of the standarc]. is also formed tubular or'hollow and receives a compression spring 8, which bears at its [lower end against the end of the 'socket,.and at its upper end against an angular projecting portion 7 a of bow arm 7. The opening lea ing to the spring containing socket, is of such size and shape that when vthe arm is' removed the springban be readily inserted "or'withdrawn. 111' the embodimentshown in thedrawings an extension link Qforthe outrigger bow is pivoted 'at its rear to the hinge pin 73 of bow ,arm 7 fand'the extension link 10 of the out- .rigger'boyv ispivoted at 10 to a portionl of standard 1 projected above thepivot'T. Extension link'lO has'an angular extension 10 inrear'oijpivot 10, which in effect con- 'stitutes afhell crank lever, which extension is connected by link 11 with bow arm 7. Springs therefore, acting on part? tends to swing bow arm? backward. This, when the parts are foldedfully back, tends also to halve a lifting effect on bow standard 1 until bow '7 is fully open and clear ofithe rear bow. Further, in its movementfto the right in relation to standard 1 bow arm 7 through the pull of link 11 and bell crank 1 Q- -10 .tends to exert a lifting eflect on the outrigger bow arm 12 in proximity to the lock hinge 12*. a

f Instead of us ng compression springs I may, by. a slight modification, substitute tension springs assho'wniin Fig. 4.

further embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Fig.5.

Inflthis'I make the main .standard'l hollow throughout its length and arrange therein a single spring arranged to act both on'the rearbow andthe upper set oflinks or levers.

. rear ibowarm Achy slink-14 ;w-hich engages a slot in the extension .4.

In this form I carry the bow arm '7 across :and pivot iti to the front side of the standard 1,- as indicated at 7, and co nneet the ri :14 to the arm in rear ofsaidpivot I bylinkletflthe arrangement, in other respects, being substantially the same. this construction IQ-get a single spring in e 'istand 'd, a tin be h an h r ma fb w and theupper sets of links or levers Having. thus jdescrib'ed' in'v'ention what I claim is:

lfIn a vehicle top, a standardjpivotally onn te w ,v itl 'body' and having a l w Pa i ow ls' lrr fi m ihb i Pi eted to said standardandhaving an "extension in line'withsaidhollowpart, spring within said hellowpartf actingfbetween said standard and member.

2. A vehicle top having how or standard members pi'vota'lly connected, spring means a t ng etw en ai me b e end n to separate them, an'outrigger bow, "a'link connectingthe san'ieto one ofsaidniernbers,

bell crank-mechanism carried by onefof said members, and operatively connected with the outrigger bow,.and a linktro in nk echanism to th Te he le i whereby said spring also 'aets'indirectly on the outrigger bow. i

' 3, In'a vehicletop, 3 11151111 standardha-ving a'hollow portion, a bow armpiyoted to the r a f said t nd Spring l l within said hollow parttending to" said bow arm-relative to said standard, an outrigger bow arm, links connectingisaid outrigger bow arm with said standard, one

of said links havingan extension, link connecting said extension with said zbow arm, 1 I

I 4. 'A- vehicle top havinga' standard adapted to bepivotally supported from a; vehicle body, rear main andisup,plemental;bow arms pivoted respectively at ornealrthe lower and upper ends of said standard, an ,outrigs o a P l of lif ks S p n Sa 1 1 rigger bow "from said standard and one of said 'links being '..operatively connected to said upper supplemental bow, ispring means within the standard on" said rear main and supple nental'bow arms.

' 5 A vehicle top having a standard-adapted tdbe'pivoany supported from a vehicle body, rear main and supplementalfbowiarms pivoted respectively at or n er thef lower and upper :ends of said standardfan' out rigger bow, beil crank"mechanism supporting said outrigger bow. from saidstandard with said standard, spring to swing ported solely rigger thereof, an outrigger bow extendin supplemental bow, said standard being hollow throughout its length, and spring means located in said hollow standard and arranged to act on said main and supplemental bow arms.

6. In a vehicle top, a standard adapted for pivotal connection with a vehicle body, an outrigger bow arm, link mechanism pivotally connecting said outrigger bow arm means carried b and disposed longitudinal and means for causing said spring means to constantly tend to swing said link mechanism relative to the standard.

7. In a vehicle top, a standard adapted for pivotal connection with a vehicle body, a rear bow arm pivotally connected to said standard near its lower end, an outrigger bow arm, a link connecting said outrigger bow arm with the upper end of said standard, spring means within the standard, means for causing said spring means to act on said rear bow arm, and means ing said spring means 8. In a vehicle top, be pivotally connected with a vehicle body and having a hollow part, an outrigger bow arm, a link pivotally connectin said outgger bow arm to said standar a sprin to act on said link.

by said spring is caused'to act on said lin 9. In a vehicle top a standard pivotally connected with a vehicle body, a bow. supporting member ivoted to the standard, and I means whol y encompassed in said standard and tending constantly to separate said how member from said standard in all positions of the parts: v

10. In a vehicle top, a main standard pivoted to the vehicle body, a rear bow member pivoted thereto to extend rearwardly therefrom, an outrigger bow extending to the front of said standard and pivotally suptherefrom, sprin means operating upon said rear bow ten ing to move it in the direction of its pivotal movement by gravity and operating upon said outbow tending to move it in the direction opposite to its pivotal movement by gravit 11. pivoted to the vehicle body, a rear bow member pivotally mounted to swing in angular relation to said standard and to the rear to the front of said standard and pivota ly supported solely therefrom,'spring means operating upon said rear bow member tendin to move it in the direction of its pivota movement by gravity and operating upon said outrigger bow tending to moveit in the direction opposite to its pivotal movement by gravity.

of the standar for caustion of a pivotally-connected the same relative to the standard.

a vehicle top, a main standard 12. In a vehicle top, a standard adapted to be pivotally secured to a vehicle body and having 'a-hollow part, a tension spring within said hollow part of said standard, an outrigger bow arm, nected respectively to said outrigger bow arm and said standard and having a free end extended to the rear of its pivot on said standard to a point in substantially the direct line of pull of said spring, and means transmitting the pull of said spring to said link at its said free end whereby said sprin is caused to act on said link at its free en to swing said link relative to said standard.

a link pivotallycon- I standard; and a spring arranged within one r of said members and operating longitudinall ten ing to distend said members both in the collapsed and extended conditions of the top.

14. In a foldable vehicle top, the combinastandard and rear bow arm, one pivotally mounted on the vehicle body and carryin the other; one of having a lever extension projecting thereinto; and a spring in said hollow member acting against said extension for distending the two members. a.

15. In a foldable vehicle top, the combination of a pivotally-connected spring-distended standard and rear bow arm, one pivotally mounted on carrying the other; and spring-distended foldable top-extension means carriedby said standard; and spring means contained in said standard for distending the parts referred to and maintaining the top elastically distended both forwardly and rearwardly of said standards.

16. Ina foldable vehicle top, the combination of a pivotally-connected spring-distended standard and rear bow arm, one pivotally mounted on the vehicle body and carrying the other; and spring-distended foldable top-extension means carried by said standard; and a spring-coupling between said rear bow and top-extension means for distending the parts referred to.

17. In a vehicle top, member pivotally connected; spring-means acting between said members tending to separate them; a front outrigger bow; and links connecting said outrigger bow with said standard, one of said links operatively connected with said first-mentioned bow member, whereb said spring means acts indirectly on sai outrigger bow.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

I MAX Boon.

thereof against the other member,

said members being hol ow and the other the vehicle body, and

a'standard and bow 

